By Jerry Burke
Federal, state and local authorities, led by the U.S. Marshals Service, banded together for what U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales had dubbed Operation FALCON, Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally. Officials report that the 10,340 people arrested between April 4 and April 10 marked the largest number of arrests ever recorded during a single operation.
"We will use all of our nation's law-enforcement resources to serve the people, to pursue justice, and to make our streets and nation safer," Gonzales said at a press conference last Thursday at which the names of the suspects caught in the effort were released.
Washington, who was wanted by Nassau County police in connection with the armed robbery of the Delta Gas Station on Hempstead Turnpike last March, was also on the FALCON list for his possible involvement in two Queens murders, including the January 2004 shooting of Karim Titus, 20, who was shot six times by a man Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said had staked out his Laurelton apartment.
Washington is also suspected in the November 2003 shooting death of Robert Jarvis, 37, outside the Industry Lounge bar in Jamaica, Queens, after the victim got into an argument with a man New York City police believe was Washington over a woman. Four shots later, Jarvis was dead.
In all, the dragnet resulted in the arrest of 68 fugitives classified by authorities as "violent" in connection with Long Island-based charges. Washington, listed until last week as one of the New York Police Department's 10 most wanted violent felons, was caught April 10 by marshals and city police acting on an anonymous tip. They pulled over his car at 113th Avenue and Francis Lewis Boulevard.
According to officials, Washington had gone to Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park on New Year's Day, under an assumed name, for treatment of a superficial bullet wound in his leg. Police questioned him about his injury, but Washington fled before they could determine his true identity.
According to Brown, Washington was arraigned in connection with Titus's murder, pleading not guilty in Queens Criminal Court. He is being held without bail, and will face arraignment in Jarvis's murder soon, said Brown.
A spokesman for the Nassau County district attorney's office said the investigation into Washington's Long Island criminal activities is ongoing. Washington has a distinctive teardrop tattoo under his left eye, stands 5 feet 8, weighs 120 pounds, has short brown hair and brown eyes, and usually wears diamond earrings in both ears. His nicknames, according to New York City police, were Little Brad and LB. Anyone with further information on Washington is encouraged to call (800) 244-TIPS.
Federal officials said that such a massive show of force at one time was expected to prompt publicity and help highlight the mission, but they insist that the operation was designed strictly to carry out law-enforcement objectives.
Operation FALCON, said Gonzales, involved more than 3,000 law-enforcement officials participating in fugitive searches. Five national and 83 district fugitive task forces coordinated raids under the U.S. Marshals Service. In addition to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Secret Service, and even the Department of Housing and Urban Development got involved.
Nationwide, according to Ben Reyna, head of the U.S. Marshals Service, FALCON resulted in the arrest of 162 murder suspects, 68 suspected kidnappers, 38 suspected arsonists and 638 people wanted for armed robberies. Also captured, said Reyna, were 106 unregistered sex offenders, 154 gang members and 553 suspects wanted for rape or sexual assault.
Comments about this story? JBurke@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
